IMG ARENA, a leading sports betting service and content hub, has acquired the data distribution rights to both the Ryder Cup and the Presidents Cup.

In addition to acquiring the data rights for both events, IMG ARENA has also secured the distribution rights for live streaming to the Presidents Cup. As part of its offering IMG ARENA will distribute data and live streaming of two par-3 holes (based on market availability) via its Golf Event Centre.

Both biennial match play events will be part of IMG ARENA’s ever-growing Golf Event Centre, which already includes PGA TOUR and European Tour events, as well as the PGA Championship, run by the PGA of America.

The Ryder Cup features the United States versus Europe and will next take place at Whistling Straits Golf Course, in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, from September 21-26, 2021, while the United States will face the International Team in the Presidents Cup at Quail Hollow Club, in Charlotte, North Carolina, from September 19-25, 2022.

IMG ARENA will package and present the content from both events for sportsbook operators via the Golf Event Centre, working with the organisers and rights holders at the PGA of America, Ryder Cup Europe and PGA TOUR.

The PGA TOUR will collaborate with IMG ARENA at the Ryder Cup on data collection, utilising the proprietary ShotLink® system, which employs an elaborate network of walking scorers, lasers and greenside cameras.

The partnership will allow sports bettors to enjoy a comprehensive range of real-time, shot-by-shot data and markets, as well as interactive course visualisations.

The purpose-built sports betting solution is an industry-first product, created in association with the world’s leading golf tours to enable interactive in-play betting on the sport.

Max Wright, SVP Commercial of IMG ARENA, said: “The addition of two iconic sporting showpieces, the Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup, cements the Golf Event Centre’s status as a must-have product.

“Sports bettors will be able to enjoy a totally new and unique experience at both events, with a never-seen-before range of data and content to consume.”

Seth Waugh, PGA of America CEO, said: “This experience allows fans to engage with our most unique flagship event – the Ryder Cup – in a way that they’ve never been able to before. This is an entirely new avenue to globally reach a world of people, beyond just dedicated golf fans, and importantly to continue the momentum of growing interest in the game from an increasingly diverse fan base.”

Guy Kinnings, European Tour Deputy CEO, Ryder Cup Director and Chief Commercial Officer, said: “The Golf Event Centre offers a new way for fans to enjoy and experience the Ryder Cup, a global event that transcends our sport.

“We have been working closely with IMG ARENA across our European Tour events since 2019 and the inclusion of the Ryder Cup in the Golf Event Centre is the natural next step in that partnership.”

Rick Anderson, Chief Media Officer at the PGA TOUR, said: “This is another example of the world’s leading golf organisations collaborating to continue fostering the amazing growth of our sport. IMG ARENA and the Event Golf Centre provide sports bettors with a product that is unlike anything else on the market. With the Presidents Cup being our premier global team event, we feel this is a tremendous step in delivering a best-in-class experience for our fans.”

Headquartered in London, IMG ARENA works with more than 470 leading sportsbook brands worldwide to deliver live streaming video and data feeds for more than 45,000 sports events annually, as well as for on-demand virtual sports products including the UFC Event Centre. In 2020, more than 210 million hours of IMG ARENA content was watched by 69 million unique viewers around the globe. IMG ARENA’s clients include the ATP, UFC, European Tour, PGA TOUR, the FA, and Serie A.